# Scan a specific directory for new files

**URL:** <https://discourse.nodered.org/t/scan-a-specific-directory-for-new-files/655>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [7 June 2018 06:07 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/scan-a-specific-directory-for-new-files/655 "2018-06-07T06:07:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ThanosMel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/db5fbb/32.png) [@ThanosMel](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ThanosMel)\
**Post date:** [7 June 2018 06:07 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/scan-a-specific-directory-for-new-files/655/1 "2018-06-07T06:07:19Z")

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Hi I need to keep scanning a specific -raspberry-directory for new xml files and store the xml files to a database. The raspberry pi is paired with a weight scale and each time that someone uses this scale a new xml file is produced in the directory and it ovverides the current xml file.Is that possible by using node-red only?

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**Author:** ![ukmoose](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/discourse.nodered.org/ukmoose/32/13_2.png) [@ukmoose](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ukmoose)\
**Post date:** [7 June 2018 06:25 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/scan-a-specific-directory-for-new-files/655/2 "2018-06-07T06:25:11Z")

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There’s a “watch” node which watches a directory or file for changes which you could try

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**Author:** ![ThanosMel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/db5fbb/32.png) [@ThanosMel](https://discourse.nodered.org/u/ThanosMel)\
**Post date:** [7 June 2018 06:31 UTC](https://discourse.nodered.org/t/scan-a-specific-directory-for-new-files/655/3 "2018-06-07T06:31:58Z")

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it was so simple i am dumb and new with node-red thank you.